Semiconductor device with diode region

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a SiC body having a first surface, a gate trench extending from the first surface into the SiC body and having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom, a source region of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC body and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench, a drift region of the first conductivity type formed in the SiC body below the source region, a body region of a second conductivity type formed in the SiC body between the source region and the drift region and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench, and a diode region of the second conductivity type formed in the SiC body and adjoining the second sidewall and the bottom of the gate trench but not the first sidewall of the gate trench.

BACKGROUND

Power transistors, which are transistors with voltage blocking capabilities of up to several hundred volts and with a high current rating, can be implemented as vertical MOS trench transistors. In this case, a gate electrode of the transistor can be arranged in a trench that extends in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body. The gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from source, body and drift regions of the transistor and is adjacent the body region in a lateral direction of the semiconductor body. A drain region usually adjoins the drift region, and a source electrode is connected to the source region.

In many applications it is desirable to have a diode connected in parallel to a load path (drain-source path) of the transistor. An integrated body diode of the transistor may be used for this purpose. The body diode is formed by a pn junction between the body region and the drift region. In order to connect the body diode parallel to the load path of the transistor, the body region may simply be electrically connected to the source electrode. The body diode, however, may have a current rating that is lower than desired in some applications.

Power transistors may be implemented with conventional semiconductor materials such as silicon (Si) or silicon carbide (SiC). Due to the specific properties of SiC, the use of SiC allows to implement power transistors with a higher voltage blocking capability (at a given on-resistance) than Si. High blocking voltages, however, result in high electric fields in the semiconductor body, specifically at the pn-junction between the body region and the drift region. Usually there are sections of the gate electrode and of the gate dielectric arranged close to this pn junction. Problems may occur, when the dielectric strength of the gate dielectric is not sufficient for a desired voltage blocking capability of the transistor device. In this case, the gate dielectric may breakdown early.

There is a need to provide a semiconductor device with a transistor device and a diode, wherein a gate electrode of the transistor is protected from high electric fields, and wherein the diode has a high current rating and low losses.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body and at least one device cell integrated in the semiconductor body. The at least one device cell includes a drift region, a source region, and a body region arranged between the source region and the drift region, a diode region, and a pn junction between the diode region and the drift region. The at least one device cell further includes a trench with a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom, wherein the body region adjoins the first sidewall, the diode region adjoins the second sidewall, and the pn junction adjoins the bottom of the trench. A gate electrode of the at least one device cell is arranged in the trench and dielectrically insulated from the body region, the diode region and the drift region by a gate dielectric. The diode region includes a lower diode region arranged below the bottom of the trench which includes a maximum of a doping concentration distant to the bottom of the trench.

Another embodiment relates to a method of producing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor body with a drift region layer, a body region layer adjoining the drift region layer, and a source region layer adjoining the body region layer and forming a first surface of the semiconductor body. The method further includes forming at least one diode region such that the diode region extends from the first surface through the source region layer and the body region layer into the drift region layer, wherein the diode region and the drift region layer form one pn-junction, forming at least one trench having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom such that the at least one trench adjoins the body region layer on one of the first and second sidewalls, the diode region on the second sidewall and the pn-junction on the bottom. A gate electrode and a gate dielectric dielectrically insulating the gate electrode from the semiconductor body are formed in the at least one trench. Sections of the source region layer remaining after forming the diode regions) form source regions, and sections of the body region layer remaining after forming the at least one diode region form a body region Forming the at least one diode region comprises forming a lower diode region below the bottom of the trench, and forming a maximum of a doping concentration of the lower diode region distant to the bottom of the trench.

Those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples are explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings serve to illustrate the basic principle, so that only aspects necessary for understanding the basic principle are illustrated. The drawings are not to scale. In the drawings the same reference characters denote like features.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a horizontal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the semiconductor device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of the semiconductor device of FIG. 2 in a section plane other than the section plane illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a doping concentration of a diode region of the semiconductor device.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a doping concentration of a channel region and drift region of the semiconductor device.

FIGS. 6A to 6J illustrate a method for producing a semiconductor device according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate one embodiment of a method for producing a semiconductor device structure illustrated in FIG. 6B.

FIG. 8 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of a semiconductor device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of a semiconductor device according to yet another embodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10D illustrate one embodiment of a method for producing a thicker gate dielectric at a bottom and, optional, one sidewall of a trench.

FIGS. 11A to 11D illustrate another embodiment of a method for producing a thicker gate dielectric at a bottom and, optional, one sidewall of a trench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of a semiconductor device, specifically of a vertical semiconductor device, and more specifically of a vertical transistor device with an integrated diode. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body 100 with a first surface 101. Figure shows a section of the semiconductor device in a vertical section plane, which is a section plane perpendicular to the first surface. The semiconductor body 100 extends vertically, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 101, and horizontally, that is, in directions parallel to the first surface 101.

Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor device includes at least one device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ integrated in the semiconductor body 100. The device cell will also be referred to as transistor cell in the following. In FIG. 1, two device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are illustrated. However, the semiconductor device may include more than two device cells, such as several ten, several hundred, several thousand, several ten thousand, several hundred thousand, or even several million device cells integrated in one semiconductor body 100.

In FIG. 1, the two device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are labeled with different reference characters, while like features of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are labeled with like reference characters. Referring to FIG. 1, each transistor cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ includes a drift region 11, a source region 12 and a body region 13. The body region 13 is arranged between the source region 12 and the drift region 11. Each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ further includes a diode region 30 and a pn junction formed between the diode region 30 and the drift region 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ share the drift region 11. That is, the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ have one drift region 11 in common.

Referring to FIG. 1, each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ further includes a gate electrode 21 arranged in a trench and dielectrically insulated from the body region 13, the diode region 30, and the drift region 11 by a gate dielectric 22. The trench with the gate electrode 21 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ has a first sidewall 110 ₁, a second sidewall 110 ₂, opposite the first sidewall 110 ₁ and a bottom 110 ₃. The body region 13 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ adjoins the first sidewall 110 ₁ of the corresponding trench, the diode region 30 adjoins the second sidewall 110 ₂ of the corresponding trench, and the pn junction between the drift region 11 and the diode region 30 adjoins the bottom 110 ₃ of the corresponding trench.

Referring to FIG. 1, the diode region 30 of one device cell, such as device cell 10 ₁ extends from a first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100 adjacent the source region 12 and the body region 13 of a neighboring device cell, such as device cell 10 ₂, into the drift region 11 where the pn junction is formed. An electrically insulating layer (insulation layer) 51 covers the first surface 101 and the gate electrodes 21. The insulation layer 51 has contact openings 52 where the insulation layer 51 uncovers the diode regions 32 and the source regions 12 of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂. A source electrode 41 is formed on the insulation layer 51 and in the contact openings 52. The source electrode 41 is electrically insulated from the gate electrodes 21 by the insulation layer 51 and electrically connects the individual diode regions 30 and the individual source regions 12 to a source terminal S (only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1) or forms the source terminal S. Optionally, the source electrode 41 includes a first source electrode layer 41 ₁ electrically contacting the diode regions 30 and the source regions 12, and a second source electrode layer 41 ₂ electrically connecting the first source electrode layer 41 ₁. The second source electrode layer 41 ₂ is connected to the source terminal S or forms the source terminal S of the semiconductor device. The first electrode layer 41 ₁ includes, e.g., titanium (Ti), platinum (Pt), nickel alloys, or the like. The second electrode layer 41 ₂ includes, e.g., aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the source electrode 41 is a planar electrode which contacts the source region 12 and the diode region 30 at the first surface 101. Optionally, the semiconductor body 100 includes a contact trench (not shown) which, from the first surface 101, extends at least into the diode regions. In this embodiment, the source electrode 41 extends into the trench.

Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor device further includes a drain region 14 adjoining the drift region 11. Optionally, a field-stop region (not illustrated) of the same doping type as the drift region 11 but more highly doped in the drift region 11 is arranged between the drift region 11 and the drain region 14. The drain region 14 is electrically connected to a drain terminal D (only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1). The individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ share one drain region 14. That is, there is one drain region 14 common to the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂.

The individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are connected in parallel by having the source regions 12 connected to the source terminal S via the source electrode 41, by sharing the drain region 14 and having the drain region 14 connected to the drain terminal D, and by having the gate electrodes 21 electrically connected to a common gate terminal G. The connection of the gate electrodes 21 to the gate terminal G is only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. One possible way to connect the gate electrodes 21 to the gate terminal G is explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 herein below.

The semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1 is a MOS transistor device with an integrated diode. The transistor device can be implemented as an n-type device or as a p-type device. In an n-type device, the source regions and the drift region 11 are n-doped, while the body region 13 is p-doped. In a p-type device, the source regions 12 and the drift region 11 are p-doped, while the body regions 13 are n-doped. The transistor device can be implemented as an enhancement (normally-off) device or as a depletion (normally-on) device. In an enhancement device, the body regions 13 of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ adjoin the gate dielectric 22. In a depletion device there are channel regions 15 (illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 1) of the same doping type as the source regions 12 and the drift region 11 along the gate dielectric 22. The channel region 15 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ extends from the corresponding source region 12 to the drift region 11 along the gate dielectric 22 and is depleted of charge carriers when the transistor device is switched off. Alternatively, the gate dielectric 22 includes fixed charges that cause the generation of a conducting channel in the body region 13 along the gate dielectric 22 when the gate drive voltage (gate-source voltage) is zero.

Further, the transistor device can be implemented as a MOSFET or as an IGBT. In a MOSFET, the drain region 14 has the same doping type as the source regions 12 and the drift region 11, while in an IGBT the drain region 14 has a doping type complementary to the doping type of the source regions 12 and the drift region 11. In an IGBT, the drain region 14 is also referred to as collector region.

The diode regions 30 have the same doping type as the body regions 13, which is a doping type complementary to the doping type of the drift region 11. Since the diode region 30 of one device cell, such as device cell 10 ₁ in FIG. 1, adjoins the body region 13 of a neighboring device cell, such as device cell 10 ₂ in FIG. 1, the body region 13 of each device cell is electrically connected to the source electrode 41 through the diode region 30 of a neighboring device cell. Optionally, each diode region 30 includes two differently doped semiconductor regions, namely a first region 31 adjoining the drift region 11 and forming the pn junction with the drift region 11, and a second region 32 electrically connecting the first region 31 to the source electrode 41. The second region 32, which will also be referred to as contact region in the following, may have a higher doping concentration than the first region 31. In the embodiment shown FIG. 1, the contact region 32 of one device cell, such as device cell 101 in FIG. 1, adjoins the second sidewall of the corresponding trench and electrically connects the body region 13 of the neighboring device cell, such as device cell 10 ₂ in FIG. 1, to the source electrode 41.

The diode region 30 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ forms a bipolar diode with the drift region 11 and the drain region 14. A circuit symbol of this bipolar diode is also illustrated in FIG. 1 (the polarity of the circuit symbol illustrated in FIG. 1 relates to an n-type semiconductor device; in a p-type device the polarity is inverted). The diodes formed between the diode regions 30 of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ and the drift region 11 are connected in parallel and are connected in parallel with a load path (drain-source path) of the MOS transistor. The drain-source path of the MOS transistor is an internal path between the drain terminal D and the source terminal S. The individual diodes are reverse biased (block) when a voltage with a first polarity is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S of the MOS transistor, and the individual diodes are forward biased (conduct) when a voltage with a second polarity is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S. In an n-type semiconductor device, the diodes are reverse biased when a positive voltage is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S, and the diodes are forward biased when a negative voltage is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S (which is a positive voltage between the source and drain terminals S, D). The individual diodes are parallel to the body diodes of the transistor cells. The body diodes are the diodes formed by the body regions 13 and the drift region 11 of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂. However, unlike the body diodes, the properties of the diodes between the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11 can be adjusted widely independent of the properties of the MOS transistor. Specifically, the diodes between the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11 can be implemented to have a high current rating by implementing the diode region 30 such that the pn junction between the diode region 30 and the drift region 11 has a relatively large area.

The semiconductor device of FIG. 1 can be operated like a conventional MOS transistor by applying a load voltage between the drain and source terminals D, S and by applying a drive potential to the gate electrode G. One way of operation is briefly explained with reference to an n-type semiconductor device. This way of operation, however, also applies to a p-type device, where in a p-type device the polarities of the voltages explained in the following are inverted. The semiconductor device is in a forward operation mode when a load voltage is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S that reverse biases the body diodes and the additional diodes (the diodes between the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11) of the individual device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂. This voltage is a positive voltage in an n-type device. In the forward operation mode, the MOS transistor can be switched on and off through the drive potential applied to the gate terminal G. The MOS transistor is switched on (in an on-state) when the drive potential applied to the gate terminal G generates conducting channels in the body regions 13 between the source regions 12 and the drift region 11, and the MOS transistor is switched off (in an off-state) when the conducting channel in the body regions 13 are interrupted. The absolute value of the drive potential that switches on or switches off the transistor device is dependent on the specific type of the transistor device (enhancement device or depletion device).

The semiconductor device is in a reverse operation mode when a voltage is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S that forward biases the body diodes and the additional diodes. In this operation mode, the semiconductor device can only be controlled through the polarity of the load voltage, but not through the drive potential applied to the gate terminal G.

When the semiconductor device is in the forward operation mode and when the semiconductor device is switched off, the pn-junctions between the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11 and the pn-junctions between the body regions 13 and the drift region 11 are reverse biased so that a depletion region expands in the drift region 11 beginning at the pn-junctions. When the load voltage increases, the depletion region expands deeper into the drift region 11 in the direction of the drain region 14. When the load voltage increases and the depletion region expands deeper into the drift region 11, the electric field strength at the pn-junctions also increase. Since the pn-junctions between the body regions 13 and the first drift region 11 is close to the gate dielectric 22, the gate dielectric 22 may be damaged when high load voltages are applied, that is when high field strengths occur. In the semiconductor device of FIG. 1, however, the diode regions 30 of two neighboring device cells 10 ₁, 10 ₂ together with the drift region 11 act as a JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor). This JFET has channel regions 111 between two neighboring diode regions 30. As the load voltage increases and as the electrical potential of the drift region 11 increases, the JFET pinches off the channel regions 111 and prevents a field strength of an electric field at the pn-junctions between the body regions 13 and the drift region 11 to further increase when the load voltage further increases.

The load voltage at which the channels 11 ₁ of the JFET pinch off, is, for example, dependent on a distance between two neighboring diode regions 30 in a lateral direction of the semiconductor body 100. The “lateral direction” of the semiconductor body 100 is perpendicular to the vertical direction (in which the drain region 14 is spaced from the body regions 13 and the diode regions 30) and is essentially parallel to the first surface 101. This lateral distance between two neighboring diode regions 30 is, for example, between 0.5 μm (micrometers) and 2 μm (micrometers) or between 0.25 times and 1.5 times the width of the trenches accommodating the gate electrodes 21. The “width” of the trenches is the distance between the first and second sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂. In case the trenches are tapered, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the width is either the largest distance between the first and second sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ or the average of the width. According to another embodiment, the lateral distance between two neighboring diode regions 30 is between 30% and 60% of a dimension (width) of the diode regions 30 in the lateral direction in the drift region 11 below the trenches 110. In case the diode regions have a varying width in the drift region 11, the width is either the maximum width or the average width.

Each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ includes a channel region, which is a region of the body region 13 along the gate dielectric 22 or which is the optional channel region 15 (illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 1). The channel region along the gate dielectric 22 enables charge carriers to flow from the source regions 12 to the drift region 11 when the transistor device is in the on-state. The diode region 30 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ does not overlap the channel region. That is the pn junctions between the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11 adjoin the bottoms 110 ₃ of the individual gate trenches and do not extend beyond the gate trenches in the direction of the channel regions. Thus, the diode regions 30 do not constrain a charge carrier flow from the channel regions to the drain region 14.

The voltage blocking capability of the semiconductor device is, inter alia, dependent on a distance between the diode regions 30 and the drain region 14. This distance can be adjusted in the manufacturing process in accordance with the desired voltage blocking capability. As a rule of thumb, in a SiC semiconductor body 100, the distance between the drain region 14 and diode region 30 is between 0.8 micrometers and 1.0 micrometers per 100V voltage blocking capability.

The semiconductor body 100 may include a conventional semiconductor material, in particular a wide bandgap semiconductor material, such as silicon carbide (SiC), or the like. The device topology illustrated in FIG. 1 is, in particular, suitable for semiconductor devices implemented with SiC technology. When, e.g., the semiconductor body 100 includes SiC, the gate dielectric 22 may be implemented as a silicon oxide (SiO₂). A gate dielectric 22 of SiO₂ may suffer from degradation when exposed to high field strengths that may occur in high voltage devices. In such devices, the JFET formed by the diode regions 30 and the drift region 11 efficiently protects the gate dielectric 22 when the semiconductor device is switched off and a high load voltage is applied between the drain and source terminals D, S. In the reverse operation mode, the additional diode that is directly connected to the source electrode 41 is a highly efficient diode with low losses connected in parallel to the load path of the MOS transistor.

The doping concentration of the drift region 11 is, for example, between 1E14 cm⁻³ and 1E17 cm⁻³. The doping concentration of the body regions 13 is, for example, between 5E16 cm⁻³ and 5E17 cm⁻³. The doping concentrations of the source and drain regions 12, 14 are, for example, higher than 1E19 cm⁻³. The doping concentration of the diode regions 30 is, for example, between 1E18 cm⁻³ and 1E19 cm⁻³.

Referring to FIG. 1, the body region 13 of each device cell 10 ₁, 10 ₂ adjoins the corresponding gate trench at the first sidewall 110 ₁. Especially when the gate trenches have tapered sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ may correspond to different crystal planes of a crystal lattice of the semiconductor body 100. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor body 100 includes a hexagonal SiC crystal and the gate trenches have tapered sidewalls, such that the first sidewall 110 ₁ corresponds to the 11-20-plane in the SiC crystal. In this case the individual channel regions feature a relatively low resistance. In this embodiment, the first sidewall 110 ₁ is aligned with the c-axis of the crystal of the SiC semiconductor body. The c-axis (hexagonal main axis) is perpendicular to the growth plane (0001-plane) of the SiC crystal. This growth plane is not illustrated in FIG. 1. The bottom 110 ₃ of the trench is essentially parallel to the first surface 101.

An angle α (alpha) between the first sidewall 110 ₁ and the first surface 101 of the trench 110 is dependent on an orientation of the first surface relative to the growth plane (0001-plane). According to one embodiment, the first surface 101 is inclined relative to the growth plane, where an angle between the first surface 101 and the growth plane may be between 1° and 10°, in particular between 2° and 8°. In this case a is between 80° (90°−10°) and 89° (90°−1°), and in particular between 82° (90°−8°) and 88° (90°−2°). According to one specific embodiment, the angle between the first surface 101 and the growth plane is 4°, so that the angle α between the first surface 101 and the first sidewall 110 ₁ of the trench 110 is 86°. There is a high charge carrier mobility in the SiC crystal along the 11-20 plane (which may also be written as (1 1-2 0) plane) so that the alignment of the first sidewall to the c-axis results in a low resistance in the channel region along the gate dielectric 22 in the body region 13.

The gate trenches can be elongated trenches, wherein the gate electrodes 21 can be connected to a gate terminal electrode at positions that are out of view in the vertical cross sectional view of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a horizontal cross sectional view of one embodiment of the semiconductor device of FIG. 1 that includes elongated gate trenches. FIG. 2 illustrates features of the semiconductor device in three different horizontal layers of the semiconductor body 100. In FIG. 2, the gate electrodes 21 and the gate dielectrics 22 are illustrated in dotted lines. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the gate trenches with the gate electrodes 21 and the gate dielectric 22 are elongated trenches. The source regions 12 and the diode regions 30 with the optional contact regions 32 run parallel to the gate trenches. FIG. 2 further illustrates (in dashed lines) contact openings 52, 53 of the insulation layer 51. Referring to FIG. 2, there are first contact openings 52 above the source regions 12 and the diode regions 30, specifically the contact regions 32 of the diode regions, and second contact openings 52 above the gate electrodes 21. The second openings 53 are spaced apart from the first openings 52 in a first lateral direction x of the semiconductor body 100. The individual gate trenches and the individual diode regions 30 are spaced in a second lateral direction y that is perpendicular to the first lateral direction x, in the present embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the source electrode 41 covers the insulation layer 51 in those regions where the first contact openings 52 are located and is electrically connected to the contact regions 32 and the source regions 12 in the first contact openings 52.

A gate connection electrode (gate runner) 42 is spaced apart from the source electrode 41 in the first lateral direction x and covers the insulation layer 51 in those regions where the second contact openings 52 are arranged. The gate connection electrode 42 is electrically connected to the gate electrodes 21 in the second contact openings 53. Referring to FIG. 2, the source electrode 41 and the gate connection electrode 42 may be essentially parallel.

The vertical cross sectional view illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds to a vertical cross sectional view in section plane A-A illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view in section plane B-B illustrated in FIG. 2, where section plane B-B cuts through the gate connection electrode 42 and the second contact openings 53. Referring to FIG. 3, the insulation layer 51 separates the diode regions 30 and the source regions 12 from the gate connection electrode 42, and the gate connection electrode 42 is electrically connected to the gate electrodes 21 through the second contact openings 53.

According to one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes one source electrode 41 connected to the source terminal S, and one gate connection electrode 42 connected to the gate terminal G. According to a further embodiment (not illustrated), the semiconductor device includes several gate connection electrodes 42 each connected to the gate terminal G, and several source electrodes 41 each connected to the source terminal S where the gate connection electrodes 42 and the source electrodes 41 are essentially parallel and are arranged alternatingly in the first lateral direction x.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the diode region 30 includes a region which, in the vertical direction of the semiconductor body 100, is located below the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench. The “vertical direction” of the semiconductor body 100 is the direction perpendicular to the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. This region of the diode region 30 below the bottom 110 ₃ will be referred to as “lower diode region” in the following. In an embodiment, in which the diode region 30 includes a first diode region 31 and a second diode region 32, the lower diode region may include sections of the first diode region 31 and the second diode region 32.

According to one embodiment, the lower diode region, in the vertical direction, has a varying doping concentration such that a region, where the lower diode region has a maximum doping concentration is spaced apart from the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench. This is explained with reference to FIG. 4 below.

FIG. 4 illustrates the doping concentration N₃₀ of the diode region 30 along a line I-I shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, x represents the distance between the first surface 101 and the individual positions for which the doping concentrations are illustrated in FIG. 4. x0 denotes the position of the first surface 101, and x1 denotes the position of the trench bottom 110 ₃, and x2 denotes a lower end of the diode region 30 where the diode region 30 forms the pn-junction with the drift region. In FIG. 4, only the doping concentration of the dopants forming the diode region 30 are illustrated. As stated above, these dopants are p-type dopants in an n-type transistor device, and an n-type dopants in a p-type transistor device. Referring to FIG. 4, the doping concentration of the diode region 30 has a maximum in the lower diode region 30 at a position spaced apart from the trench bottom 110 ₃. A shortest distance d between trench bottom 110 ₃ and the position x3 of the maximum is, for example, between 200 nanometers (nm) and 1 micrometer (μm), in particular, between 250 nanometers and 500 nanometers. According to one embodiment, this maximum doping concentration in the lower diode region is between 1E18 cm⁻³ and 5E18 cm⁻³.

Referring to FIG. 4, the maximum of the doping concentration in the lower diode region may be a local maximum of the overall diode region 30. That is, the diode region may include an absolute maximum of the doping concentration or further local maximums of the doping concentration region which are outside the lower diode region and higher than the maximum doping concentration in the lower diode region 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the diode region 30 has an absolute maximum of the doping concentration close to the first surface 101. This region which has the absolute maximum the doping concentration serves as a contact region in which the source electrode 1 electrically connects to the diode region 30. The maximum doping concentration in this region is, for example, between 1E19 cm⁻³ and 1E20 cm⁻³. According to one embodiment, there is a (local) minimum of the doping concentration between the trench bottom 110 ₃ and the position x3 with the (local) maximum doping concentration. This minimum doping concentration, according to one embodiment, is in a region adjacent the trench bottom. According to one embodiment, this minimum doping concentration is between 5E17 cm⁻³ and 1E18 cm⁻³.

Implementing the diode region 30 with a local maximum of the doping concentration of the lower diode region spaced apart from the trench bottom 110 ₃ helps to effectively protect the gate dielectric 22 from high electric fields when the semiconductor device is blocking.

According to one embodiment, the drift region 11 has a locally increased doping concentration in the channel region 11 ₁. This is explained with reference to FIG. 5 below. FIG. 5 shows the doping concentration along a line II-II shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, the doping concentrations N₁₂ of the source region 12, N₁₃ of the body region 13, and N₁₁ of the drift region 11 are illustrated. As in FIG. 4, x0 denotes the position of the first surface 101, x1 denotes the position of the trench bottom 110 ₃, and x2 denotes a position of the lower end of the diode region 30. Referring to FIG. 5, the drift region 11, in a region adjoining the body region 13 has a higher doping concentration than in regions farther down the drift region 11 in the direction of the drain region 14. That is, the drift region 11 has a maximum of the doping concentration in a region between the pn-junction at the border between the body region 13 and the drift region 11 and a vertical position corresponding to the vertical position of the lower end of the diode region 30. A length of this region with an increased doping concentration is, for example, between 200 nanometers and 1 micrometer. The doping concentration in this region is, for example, at least 2 times the doping concentration outside the channel region 11 ₁. According to one embodiment, the doping concentration in the higher doped section of the channel region 11 ₁ is between 5E16 cm⁻³ and 1E17 cm⁻³. Outside the channel region 11 ₁, the doping concentration of the drift region 11 is, for example, below 2E16 cm⁻³. The higher doping of the channel region 11 ₁ helps to reduce the on-resistance of the semiconductor device, which is the electrical resistance in the on-state of the semiconductor device. According to one embodiment, the higher doped section of the channel region 11 ₁ covers the vertical position x3 where the lower diode region has the doping maximum.

According to another embodiment, the drift region 11 includes a further higher doped region 11 ₂ below the diode region 30. This further higher doped region 11 ₂ may adjoin the diode region 30 and, in a lateral direction may extend beyond the diode region 30 in the direction of the channel region 11 ₁. The doping concentration of this further higher doped region 11 ₂ may correspond to the doping concentration of the higher doped region in the channel region 11 ₁. This further higher doped region 11 ₂ may be spaced apart from the higher doped region in the channel region 11 ₁.

One embodiment of a method for producing a semiconductor device as explained herein before is explained with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6J in the following. Each of these figures shows a vertical cross sectional view of the semiconductor body 100 during individual method steps of the method.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the method includes providing a semiconductor body 100 with a drift region layer 111, a body region layer 113 adjoining the drift region layer 111, and a source region layer 112 adjoining the body region layer 113. The source region layer 112 forms a first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. The semiconductor body 100 further includes a drain region layer 114 adjoining the drift region layer 111 opposite the body region layer 113. Optionally, a field stop region layer (not illustrated) of the same doping type as the drift region layer 111, but more highly doped than the drift region layer 111 is arranged between the drain layer region 114 and the drift region layer 111. The drift region layer 111 forms the drift region 11, the body region layer 113 forms the body regions 13, the source region layer 113 forms the source regions 12, and the drain region layer 114 forms the drains region 14 of the finished semiconductor device. The doping types and the doping concentrations of the individual semiconductor layers 111-114 corresponds to the doping types and doping concentrations of the device regions formed by the individual semiconductor layers. These doping types and the doping concentrations of the individual device regions have been explained herein before.

The semiconductor body 100 of FIG. 6A can be produced using conventional techniques for producing a semiconductor body having several differently doped semiconductor layers. According to one embodiment, producing the semiconductor body 100 includes providing a semiconductor substrate that forms the drain region layer 114, growing the drift region layer 111 as a first epitaxial layer on the drain region layer 114, growing the body region layer 113 as second epitaxial layer on the drift region layer 111, and growing the source region layer 112 as a third epitaxial layer on the body region layer 113. The individual epitaxial layers can be in-situ doped during the individual epitaxial processes.

According to a second embodiment, a semiconductor substrate is provided that has a doping concentration corresponding to the doping concentration of the drift region layer 111. By implantation processes doping atoms are implanted through the first surface 101 into this substrate, so as to form the body region layer 113 and the source region layer 112. Additionally, doping atoms are implanted into the substrate through a second surface 102 opposite the first surface 101 in order to form the drain region layer 114.

According to a third embodiment, a semiconductor substrate is provided that forms the drain region layer 114. An epitaxial layer is grown on the drain region layer 114, where the epitaxial layer has a doping concentration corresponding to the doping concentration of the drift region layer 111. This epitaxial layer forms the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. Finally, doping atoms are implanted through the first surface 101 into the epitaxial layer, so as to form the body region layer 113 and the source region layer 112.

Referring to FIG. 6B, diode regions 30 that are spaced in the second lateral direction y of the semiconductor body 100 are formed. Forming the diode regions 30 may include forming a first diode region 31 in the drift region layer 111, and forming a second diode region (contact region) 32, where the contact region 32 extends from the first surface 111 through the source region layer 112 and the body region layer 113 into the first diode region 31. Forming the first and second diode regions 31, 32 may include conventional implantation processes. An embodiment of a method for producing the diode regions 30 is explained with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B herein further below.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the method further includes producing trenches in the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. The trenches each include a first sidewall 110 ₁, a second sidewall 110 ₂ opposite the first sidewall 110 ₁, and a bottom 110 ₃. The trenches subdivide the body region layer 113 and the source region layer 112 into several sections, wherein those regions that have the doping concentration of the body region layer 113 before forming the diode regions 30 form body regions 13, and those regions that have the doping concentration of the source region layer 112 before forming the diode region 30 form source regions 12 of the semiconductor device. Referring to FIG. 6C, the trenches 110 are formed such that the first sidewall 110 ₁ of each trench 110 adjoins one source region 12 and one body region 13 and that the second sidewall 110 ₂ of each trench 110 adjoins one diode region 30, specifically the contact region 32 of the diode region 30. In this case, a pn junction formed between the diode region 30 and the drift region 11 adjoins the bottom 110 ₃ of each trench 110. Forming the trenches 110 may include conventional etching processes using an etch mask 210.

Optionally, there is a post processing of the trenches 110 in which corners between the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ of the individual trenches are rounded. The result of such a rounding process is illustrated in FIG. 6D. The rounding process may include a thermal treatment in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. A temperature in this thermal treatment is, for example, between 1200° C. and 1700° C., the duration is, for example, between 1 minute and 60 minutes. According to one embodiment, the corners between the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ are formed with radius that is at least two times the thickness or at least four times the thickness the gate dielectric 22 has along the first surface 110 ₁. The gate dielectric 22 is formed in process steps explained below. According to one embodiment, a radius of the corners is at least 300 nanometers (nm). This process not only rounds the corners at the bottom of the trench, but also the corners between the first surface 101 and the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂.

According to one embodiment, the trenches 110 are formed with tapered sidewalls. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor body 100 includes SiC, and the trenches 110 are formed with tapered sidewalls such that the first sidewalls 110 ₁ are aligned with the c-axis of the SiC semiconductor crystal.

Forming the trenches with tapered sidewalls may include an etching process which etches the semiconductor body in the vertical direction at a first etch rate and in the lateral direction at a second etch rate lower than the first etch rate. As the sidewalls 110 ₁, 100 ₂ of the trench closer to the first surface 101 are subject to the etching agent longer than sections closer to the bottom 110 ₃, the trench becomes wider at the first surface 101 than at the bottom 110 ₃. Dependent on the accuracy of the etching process, dependent on how exactly the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100 is aligned with a desired crystal plane, and dependent on how exactly the semiconductor body 100 is aligned with an etching mask (not shown) in the etching process the first sidewall 110 ₁ may or may not exactly fit the crystal plane in which the channel region is desired to be implemented.

According to one embodiment, forming the trenches includes an adjustment process which serves to align the first sidewall 110 ₁ with the above mentioned crystal plane, that is, the 11-20 plane. This process, after forming the trenches, may include a thermal treatment in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. In the thermal treatment, a temperature is, for example, between 1200° C. and 1700° C., and the duration is, for example, between 1 minute and 60 minutes. According to one embodiment, the same thermal treatment is used for rounding the corners of the trenches and for fine tuning the alignment of the first sidewall 110 ₁.

In next process steps illustrated in FIG. 6E, the gate dielectric 22 is formed on the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ of the trenches 110. Optionally, the gate dielectric 22 is also formed on the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor body 100 includes SiC, and the gate dielectric 22 includes silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Forming the gate dielectric 22 may include an oxidation process, a deposition process, or a combination of a deposition process and an oxidation process

Referring to FIG. 6F, an electrode layer 21′ is formed in the trenches 110 and above the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. Those sections of the electrode layer 21′ that are located in the trenches 110 form the gate electrodes 21 of the individual device cells. For example, the electrode layer 21′ includes a highly doped polycrystalline semiconductor material, such as polysilicon, or a silicide.

Referring to FIG. 6G, the electrode layer 21′ is removed from the first surface 101 but remains in the trenches where it forms the gate electrodes 21. Removing the electrode layer 21′ above the first surface 101 may include an etching process such as a dry etching process.

Referring to FIG. 6H, the insulation layer 51 is formed above the first surface 101 and the gate electrodes 21. The insulation layer 42 may be a conventional electrically insulating layer, such as an oxide. Forming the insulation layer 51 may include a chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

Referring to FIG. 6I, contact holes 52 are formed in the insulation layer 51. Forming the contact holes may include conventional etching processes using etch masks. FIG. 6I illustrates forming the first contact holes 52 above the diode regions 30 and the source regions 12. Equivalently, the second contact holes 53 are formed above the gate electrode 21 in regions that are out of view in the vertical cross section of FIG. 6I.

Finally, the source electrode 41 is formed. The source electrode 41 electrically contacts the diode regions 30 and the source regions 12 in the first contact openings 43. Optionally, the source electrode 41 includes the two sublayers 41 ₁, 41 ₂ explained before. Forming the source electrode 41 may include a metal deposition process, such as one of a CVD process, an evaporation process, a galvanic process and a sputter process. The source electrode 41 includes an electrically conductive material, such as a metal or a silicide. Equivalently, the gate connection electrode 42 is formed in regions that are out of view in FIG. 6J and contacts the gate electrodes 21 in the second contact openings 53.

In the method explained before, the vertical position x3 (see, FIG. 4) and the doping concentration of the doping maximum in the lower diode region 30 can be adjusted in the implantation process explained with reference to FIG. 6B. In particular, the vertical position can be adjusted by adjusting the implantation energy of those ions that are implanted to form the doping maximum, and the doping concentration can be adjusted by adjusting the implantation dose. It should be noted that forming one diode region 30 may include several implantation processes which may be different in view of implantation energy and implantation dose so as to form a diode region 30 with doping concentration that varies in the vertical direction of the semiconductor body.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate one embodiment of a method for producing the diode regions 30. In the method shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the diode regions 30 are formed with a first diode region 31 and a second diode region 32. Referring to FIG. 7A, forming the first diode region 31 may include at least one implantation process using an implantation mask 210. The implantation energy of this implantation process is adjusted such that the doping atoms are implanted into the drift region layer 111.

Referring to FIG. 7B, forming the second diode regions (contact regions) 32 includes at least one further implantation process using a further implantation mask. The further implantation mask can be obtained by forming spacers 220 along sidewalls of the openings of the first implantation mask 210. Forming the contact region 32 may include several subsequent implantation processes with different implantation energies. Further, each implantation process, also the implantation processes explained with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6J before, include a thermal treatment for activating the implanted doping atoms.

The implantation energies and the implantation doses in the at least one implantation process and the at least one further implantation process are selected such that the lower diode region of the finished device has a maximum of the doping concentration at the desired vertical position x3 (see, FIG. 4). According to one embodiment, the position and the doping concentration of the maximum are defined in the process which forms the first diode region 31. According to another embodiment, both the process for forming the first diode region 31, and the process form forming the second diode region 32 define the position and the doping concentration of the doping maximum.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the second diode region 32 extends deep (more than 50% of a vertical dimension of the first diode region 31) into the first diode region 31. However, this is only an example. According to another embodiment, the second diode region 32 extends less than 50%, or even less than 25% of the vertical dimension of the first diode region 31 into the first diode region 31.

Further, forming the first diode region 31 and the second diode region 32 with different lateral dimensions, that is, using two different implantation masks for forming these first and second diode regions 31, 32 is optional. According to one embodiment, only one mask, such as the mask 210 shown in FIG. 7A is used for forming both, the first diode region 31 in the drift region 11, and the second diode region 32 connecting the first diode region 31 to the source electrode in the finished device.

Referring to FIG. 5, the channel region 11 ₁ may have a region with a higher doping concentration than other sections of the drift region 11. The higher doping concentration of the channel region can be obtained by implanting dopant atoms via the first surface 101 into the semiconductor body 100. An implantation mask may be used in order to implant the dopant atoms only in those regions where the finished device includes the channel region 11 ₁. The vertical position of the channel region 11 ₁ section with the higher doping concentration and the doping concentration can be adjusted by suitably adjusting the implantation energy and implantation dose in this process. The further higher doped region 11 ₂ (see, FIG. 1) can be produced by implanting doping atoms into the semiconductor body 100 via the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench after the process steps explained with reference to FIG. 6D above.

FIG. 8 illustrates a vertical cross sectional view of a semiconductor device according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the gate dielectric 22 is thicker at the trench bottom 110 ₃ than at the first sidewall 110 ₁. That is, the gate dielectric 22 has a first thickness at the first sidewall 110 ₁ and a second thickness at the bottom 110 ₃, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. According to one embodiment, the second thickness is at least 1.5 times the first thickness, at least 2 times the first thickness, or even at least 3 times the first thickness. Due to variations or imperfections in the manufacturing process, the thickness of the gate dielectric 22 may vary along the first sidewall 110 ₁ and the bottom 110 ₃. Thus, the “thickness” of the gate dielectric 22 at one of the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ or the bottom 110 ₃, respectively, is understood as the average thickness or the minimum thickness of the gate dielectric 22 at the respective sidewall/bottom.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the gate dielectric 22 not only at the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench, but also at the second sidewall 110 ₂ is thicker than at the first sidewall 110 ₁. That is, the gate dielectric 22 has a third thickness at the second sidewall 110 ₃ which is greater than the first thickness at the first sidewall 110 ₁. According to one embodiment, the third thickness is at least 1.5 times the first thickness, at least 2 times the first thickness, or even at least 3 times the first thickness. The third thickness may substantially be equal the second thickness at the bottom 110 ₃, or may be different from the second thickness. According to one embodiment, the first thickness is between 40 nanometers and 100 nanometers. The second thickness and the third thickness, respectively, are, for example, between 60 nanometers and 300 nanometers.

FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate one embodiment of a method for producing a thicker gate dielectric 22 on the bottom 110 ₃ and, optionally, the second sidewall 110 ₂ of the trench 110. FIGS. 10A-10C show a vertical cross sectional view of the semiconductor body 100 during/after different process sequences of the method. The method explained with reference to FIG. 10A-10C begins after forming the trench 110 in the semiconductor body 100, that is, after the process sequence explained with reference to FIGS. 6A-6D before.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the method includes forming a first dielectric layer 221 on the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench 110. Optionally, this dielectric layer 221 is also formed on the first surface 101. The first dielectric layer 221 may include an oxide. Forming this first dielectric layer 221 may include an oxidation process, a deposition process, or a combination of an oxidation process and a deposition process. For example, the deposition process includes a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the method further includes filling the trench 110 with a first protection layer 301. For example, the protection layer 301 includes a polycrystalline or amorphous semiconductor material such as, for example, polysilicon or amorphous silicon. Optionally, a second protection layer 302 is formed above the first protection layer 301 and the first surface 101 such that the second protection layer 302 is arranged above that section of the first dielectric layer 221 which covers the second sidewall 110 ₂. The second protection layer 302 is optional and can be omitted in those embodiments in which a thicker gate dielectric 22 is only to be produced at the bottom 110 ₃. The second protection layer 302 may include a polycrystalline or amorphous semiconductor material, a photoresist, or the like.

The method further includes etching the first dielectric layer 221 selectively against the semiconductor body 100, the first protection layer 301, and the optional second protection layer 302. In this process, the first protection layer 201 protects the first dielectric layer 221 at the bottom 110 ₃ from being etched, while the first dielectric layer 221 on the first surface 101 and along the first sidewall 110 ₁ can be etched. If the second protection layer 302 is omitted, the first dielectric layer 221 along the second sidewall 110 ₂ is also etched, so that, after the etching process, only the first dielectric layer 221 at the bottom 110 ₃ remains. In case there is the second protection layer 302 above the second sidewall 110 ₂, not only the first dielectric layer 221 at the bottom 110 ₃ remains, but also the first dielectric layer 221 along the second sidewall 110 ₂ remains.

FIG. 10C shows the semiconductor body 100 after these process steps, and after removing the first protection layer 301 and the optional second protection layer 302. In FIG. 10C, the first dielectric layer 221 along the second sidewall 110 ₂ is illustrated in dashed lines, as this part of first dielectric layer 221 is optional and only remains if the second protection layer 302 is produced.

Referring to FIG. 10D, the method further includes forming a second dielectric layer 222 on the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench 110. In the trench 110, this second dielectric layer 222 adds to the first dielectric layer 221. The first dielectric layer 221 and the second dielectric layer 222 form the gate dielectric 22. The gate dielectric 22 is thicker at the first sidewall 110 ₁ where only the second dielectric layer 222 is produced, is thicker at the bottom 110 ₃ where the first dielectric layer 221 and the second dielectric layer 222 are produced, and may be thicker at the second sidewall 110 ₂, where the second dielectric layer 222 and, optionally, the first dielectric layer 221 is produced. The further method steps for producing the semiconductor device may correspond to the method steps explained with reference to FIGS. 6F-6J before.

FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate a method for forming the gate dielectric 22 according to another embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11A the method includes forming a first dielectric layer 221 on the sidewalls 110 ₁, 110 ₂ and the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench 110. The first dielectric layer 221 may be produced as explained with reference to FIG. 10A before.

The method further includes removing the first dielectric layer 221 at least along the first sidewall 110 ₁. Optionally, the first dielectric layer 221 is also removed along the second sidewall 110 ₂. Removing the first dielectric layer 221 along the first sidewall 110 ₁ may include forming a mask layer on the first dielectric layer 221 above the bottom 110 ₃ and, optionally, above the second sidewall 110 ₂.

Referring to FIG. 11B, forming this mask layer may include forming a sacrificial layer 224 above the first dielectric layer 221. According to one embodiment, this sacrificial layer 224 includes a polycrystalline semiconductor material such as, for example, polysilicon. Referring to FIG. 11B, this sacrificial layer 224 is subject to a damage implantation in those regions where it is desired to remove the sacrificial layer 224. Referring to FIG. 11B, the sacrificial layer 224 along the first surface 101 and along the first sidewall 110 ₁ may be subject to damage implantation. A tilted implantation may be used in order to protect the sacrificial layer 224 at the bottom 110 ₃ and at the second sidewall 110 ₂ from being implanted. Examples of ions used in the damage implantation process include noble gas ions such as, for example, argon or xenon ions.

In next process steps, those sections of the sacrificial layer 224 which were damage implanted are removed in an etching process which selectively etches damaged sacrificial layer sections against none-damaged sacrificial layer section. FIG. 11C shows the sacrificial layer 224 after this selective etching process. The remaining sections of the sacrificial layer 224 are than used as an etch mask for etching those sections of the first dielectric layer 221 which are not covered by the sacrificial layer 224. The result of this is illustrated in FIG. 11D.

Referring to FIG. 11D, the first dielectric layer 221 remains at the bottom 110 ₃ and the second sidewall 110 ₂ of the trench 110. This structure corresponds to the structure explained with reference to FIG. 10C. Thus, the further process steps for forming the gate dielectric 22 may correspond to the process steps explained with reference to FIG. 10D before.

Based on the method explained with reference to FIG. 11A-11D a thicker gate dielectric 22 is formed on the bottom 110 ₃ and on the second sidewall 110 ₂, as the first dielectric layer 221 in this method remains on the bottom 110 ₃ and the second sidewall 110 ₂. However, this method can easily be modified to form the first dielectric layer 221 only on the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench 110. The modified method includes a further damage implantation process which is selected such that the sacrificial layer 224 is damage implanted not only above the first sidewall 110 ₁, but also above the second sidewall 110 ₂. A tilted implantation employing an implantation angle may be used that is different from the implantation angle in the method shown in FIG. 11B. Let, for example, β (beta) be the implantation angle relative to the first surface 101 in the method shown in FIG. 11B, then the implantation angle additionally used in the modified method is—β (illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 11B).

However, the sacrificial layer 224 at the bottom 110 ₃ is not damage implanted in the modified method. If the sacrificial layer 224 is damage implanted above the second sidewall 110 ₂ the etching process explained with reference to FIG. 11C etches the sacrificial layer 224 also above the second sidewall 110 ₂, so that the sacrificial layer 224 remains as a mask layer only above the bottom 110 ₃. Consequently, the etching process which etches the first dielectric layer 221 leaves the first dielectric layer 221 only on the bottom 110 ₃ of the trench 110.

It is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

With the above range of variations and applications in mind, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited by the foregoing description, nor is it limited by the accompanying drawings. Instead, the present invention is limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor body; a gate trench formed in the semiconductor body and having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom; a source region and a drift region of a first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor body; a body region of a second conductivity type arranged between the source region and the drift region and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench; and a diode region of the second conductivity type adjoining the second sidewall of the gate trench, wherein a pn junction is formed between the diode region and the drift region and adjoins the bottom of the gate trench, wherein a lateral distance between the diode region and a neighboring diode region is between 30% and 60% of a dimension of the diode regions.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the dimension of the diode regions is a width of the diode regions in a lateral direction in the drift region below the gate trench.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the width of the diode regions varies in the drift region, and wherein the lateral distance between the diode region and the neighboring diode region is between 30% and 60% of the maximum width of the diode regions in the lateral direction in the drift region below the gate trench.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the width of the diode regions varies in the drift region, and wherein the lateral distance between the diode region and the neighboring diode region is between 30% and 60% of the average width of the diode regions in the lateral direction in the drift region below the gate trench.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein a gate dielectric in the gate trench has a first thickness at the first sidewall, a second thickness at the second sidewall and a third thickness at the bottom, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness and/or the third thickness is greater than the first thickness.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the gate trench has a rounded corner between the first sidewall and the bottom, and wherein a radius of the rounded corner is at least 2 times a thickness of a gate dielectric at the first sidewall.
 7. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising: a source electrode electrically connected to the source region and the diode region.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 7, wherein the diode region comprises: a first diode region forming the pn-junction with the drift region; and a second diode region more highly doped than the first diode region and connected to the source electrode.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the second diode region adjoins the second sidewall of the gate trench.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor body comprises a SiC crystal, and wherein the first sidewall of the gate trench is aligned with a c-axis of the SiC crystal.
 11. The semiconductor device of claim 10, wherein the gate trench is formed in a first surface of the semiconductor body, and wherein an angle between the first surface of the semiconductor body and the first sidewall of the gate trench is between 80° and 89°.
 12. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor device is a depletion device, and wherein the body region includes a channel region which extends between the source region and the drift region along the first sidewall of the gate trench, and wherein the pn junction formed between the diode region and the drift region does not extend beyond the gate trench in a direction of the channel region.
 13. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor body having a first surface; a gate trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body and having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom; a source region and a drift region of a first conductivity type formed in the semiconductor body; a body region of a second conductivity type arranged between the source region and the drift region and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench; a diode region of the second conductivity type below the body region and forming a pn junction with the drift region; and a contact trench extending from the first surface into the diode region.
 14. The semiconductor device of claim 13, wherein a gate dielectric in the gate trench has a first thickness at the first sidewall, a second thickness at the second sidewall and a third thickness at the bottom, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness and/or the third thickness is greater than the first thickness.
 15. The semiconductor device of claim 13, further comprising: a source electrode electrically connected to the source region and the diode region, wherein the source electrode extends into the contact trench.
 16. The semiconductor device of claim 13, wherein the semiconductor body comprises a SiC crystal, and wherein the first sidewall of the gate trench is aligned with a c-axis of the SiC crystal.
 17. A semiconductor device, comprising: a SiC body having a first surface; a gate trench extending from the first surface into the SiC body and having a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a bottom; a source region of a first conductivity type formed in the SiC body and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench; a drift region of the first conductivity type formed in the SiC body below the source region; a body region of a second conductivity type formed in the SiC body between the source region and the drift region and adjoining the first sidewall of the gate trench; and a diode region of the second conductivity type formed in the SiC body and adjoining the second sidewall and the bottom of the gate trench but not the first sidewall of the gate trench.
 18. The semiconductor device of claim 17, wherein the diode region comprises a first region of the second conductivity type adjoining the bottom of the gate trench and forming a pn junction with the drift region, and a second region of the second conductivity type adjoining the second sidewall of the gate trench.
 19. The semiconductor device of claim 18, wherein the second region of the diode region has a higher doping concentration than the first region of the diode region.
 20. The semiconductor device of claim 18, further comprising: a source electrode connected to the source region and the second region of the diode region. 